A review by jadeandsuch
The Wife Between Us, by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Okay look.. I thought I knew. I thought I was reading a thrilling little love triangle story. I was cocky. I was so wrong.

The characters play their parts so well. Richard, the doting and wealthy husband. Nellie, the young and devout second wife. Vanessa, the obsessed and spiraling ex. They’re all shaped and presented with such care that you immediately get a sense of who they are. They all feel real and tangible and physical, like you know them personally. As the reader, you find your concern volleying between the narrators, trying to pick a side. It’s a credit to the spectacular writing that you don’t immediately feel split between the characters. Your sympathy goes out to them and while you don’t know how it is going to end, you hope they make it out okay. 

The plot is such a staple of the psychological thriller genre: crazy ex wife obsessed with young new wife. It’s been done, we can admit that. However, it has never been done like this. As you read, you feel the build up, you know something is about to happen. The moment our characters collide, my mind was properly blown. I reread the page four times to make sure I was reading it right. That twist was phenomenal (I actually told my family about it, it got me so good, and they just stared in support but I know I sounded crazy). And just when you think we are going to zig, we zag. The story begins unfurling further and revelations are made and it’s just dramatic and wild and consuming. It’s like every twist that’s ever been done is shoved into one novel but it’s not overbearing or monotonous. It works. Really well, in my opinion. Honestly, to me, it feels like an old school movie. Like a 40s noir film. It’s scandalous, thrilling, and cunning, all wrapped in a modern package. 

This is such a well crafted novel. Each aspect of the story, the plot and the characters, hell even the layout, is meticulously put together to make it the best version it could be. The duel narrator aspect plays SO WELL into how this story is read and absorbed. At no point in time did I feel bored or forced to get through a part in hopes of a more thrilling story on the next page. Every page was the promise of being another page closer to the next divulgence of a secret.

I devoured this book. If you’re in a reading slump, this is the book for you. If you’re obsessed with psychological thrillers or love unreliable narrators, this is the book for you. If you like stories with marital or familial drama, this is the book to read. I don’t care if your favorite genre of book is vintage Norwegian cookbook, I’d recommend this story to you. Please, just read it! 

(Also if you read it, please talk to me about it because my family is sick of me talking AT them about my books lol)
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